Switch



H. J. MURPHY Sept. 17, 1940.

SWITCH Filed Nov. 17, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inveaio u? by.

?I I l I I l Howard all! .9

' Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Application November 17, 1938,. Serial No. 240,985

8Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in push and pull switches of the type used on automobiles and the like for turning 03 and on auxiliary lights.

The main object of this invention is the provision of an improved switch comprising parts of inexpensive construction which may be quickly and easily assembled together so as to carry out efliciently the desired purpose.

Another object of my'invention relates to the construction of the contact members carried by one of the parts of the switch wherein each of the contact members provides a contact portion for electrical .engagement with a contact member of another part of I the switch and yieldable arms formed integrally with the contact portion for engaging an end of a fuse or the like electrical unit Other objects and uses of my invention will be apparent from inspection of the drawings and specification hereinbelow set forth.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention-- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a switch embodying my construction with the switch shown in off position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing parts of the switch in "on" position;

Fig. 5 is a top view showing the switch before the upper insulating plate is secured thereto and with parts of the switch shown in on position;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line 1--'| of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the construction of my improved switch as set out in the various figures, I have shown one comprising a stationary part, indicated generally by the numeral l, and a movable part or contact carrier, indicated generally by the numeral 2. The stationary part I comprises a frame member, indicated generally by the numeral 3, and an insulator 4 in fixed relation to the frame member 3 and carrying, in my preferred form, two leads A and "B on its upper surface 5. The lead "3 may run from a battery of an automobile and the lead A" may run from a fog light, spot light or the like. The contact carrier 2 is mounted in s embly with'the frame member 3 opposite a lower face 6 of the insulator 4 (Fig. 7) for reciprocable motion relative to the insulator 4 and carries contacts for electrical engagement with respective contact terminals aflixed to the ends of the leads 5 A and 3" to turn the switch on and off during said reciprocable motion, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. A threaded member I is preferably provided at one end of the stationary part I for securing the switch to a supporting panel (not shown).

Referring in detail to the stationary member I, the insulator 4 is in the form of a rectangular plate made of any suitable insulating material. Wire terminals 8 secured to ends of the respective leads A and B are mounted on the upper surface 5 of the insulator 4. The wire terminals 8 are similar to those illustrated and described in connection with my United States co-pending application, Serial No. 215,795, filed June 25, no 1938, and have contact portions 9 extending through apertures it of theinsulator, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7. The contact portions 9 enter into electrical engagement with cooperating contacts of the contact carrier 2 when the switch, is in "on" position. Electrical contact is made betweenthe leads A and B" and respective contact terminals 8 through electrically connecting bare wires ll of the leads A and B to the wire-receiving portion I! at an end of the respective terminalJ, as by solder i3 (Fla. 7)

Fastener members H, which are similar to those illustrated and described in my abovementioned co-pending application, are detachably mounted on the insulator 4 as by the yieldable shouldered legs l5 and serve to maintain the terminals 8 in assembly with the insulator 4. At the same time the fastener members I4 provide means in the form of spring tongues l6 exerting pressure upon the upper fiat sides I! of the respective terminals 8 (Fig. 7) thereby holding the wire terminals under constant spring pressure whereby the contact portions 9 of the terminals are raised against the tension of the spring tongues during engagement of the contact portions with respective cooperating contact members of the contact carrier}.

Referring in detail to the frame member 3, I have shown one which is preferably made of 0 metal and provides a substantially flat base means It which is preferably rectangular and supports the insulator 4. A flange portion i9 is provided at one end of the base portion I8. The flange I9 preferably has an aperture 20 (Fig. 6)

for receiving a rivet-like end 21 of the threaded member 1. Upstanding walls 22 formed along opposite longitudinal sides of the base 18 and. upstanding portions 23-23 formed at opposite ends of the base limit horizontal movement of the insulator 4. The walls 22, in my preferred form, carry lugs 24 (Fig. 1) which are clenched over the upper surface '5 of the insulator 4 for securing the insulator in fixed engagement with the base 18 of the frame member. The base 18 has spaced openings 25 adjacent one of the side walls 22 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5), each of which receives a pair of yieldable legs l5 of the fasteners 14 when the fasteners are finally secured to the insulator 4. As a means for maintaining the contact carrier 2 in fixed assembly with the frame member, the base 18 has a guideway formed therein which receives the contact carrier 2 and maintains it for reciprocable motion relative to the insulator 4. The guideway comprises spaced wall portions 28 formed from the material of the base i8 and extending out of the plane of the base beyond the lower side thereof in substantially perpendicular relation to the normal plane of the base. Inwardiy-extending portions 21-21 are provided at outermost ends of the respective wall portions 2626 for supporting the contact carrier 2 in a manner to be described. The innermost edges of the inwardlyextending portions 21-21 are spaced substantially one from another forming an opening 28 for a purpose to be described. The threaded member 1 comprises a base-portion 29, the rivetlike portion 21 extending from the base portion 29 through the opening 20 of the flange 18 for securing the threaded member to the frame member, and a threaded shank 30 extending from the base 29 in an opposite direction from that taken by the rivet-like portion 2| and adapted to receive a cooperating threaded nut after passage of the shank through an opening of a support (not shown) for securing the switch device to a support. It will be noticed that the threaded member 1 has an internal bore 31 (Fig. 6) which is open at both ends for receiving an operating shaft 32 extending from one end of the contact carrier 2.

The contact carrier 2 has a retainer part which is preferably made of one piece of sheet metal and provides a base portion 33. The base 33 has an elongated opening 34 therein. The operating shaft 32 is integrally joined to one end of the base 33, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. Upstanding portions 35 are provided at opposite longitudinal ends of the base portion (Fig. 5) for a purpose to be described. A pair of insulating plates 36 and 31 are carried by the base 33 of the retainer member and when the retainer member is in position within the guideway of the frame member, movement of the plates 38 and 31 longitudinally of the retainer member is limited by the upstanding portions 35 at opposed ends of the retainer member and lateral movement is limited by the wall portions 28 of the frame member, as most clearly shown in Fig. '7. It will be noticed that the upper plate 36 is preferably of relatively thin material and the lower plate 31 is of relatively thicker material. Spaced contact members 38 and 38 are carried by the insulating plate 31 for cooperative electrical engagement with the contact portions 9 of the terminals 8 when the switch is in on position. Each of the contact members 38 and 38, in my preferred form, comprises a base portion or contact portion 40 disposed adjacent the upper surface of the insulating plate 31 (Fig. 7) and a pair of spaced yieldable arm portions 41-41 extending in angular relation to the contact portion 48 through apertures 42 in the plate 31, the aperture 34 in the retainer base 33 and the aperture 28 of the frame base to a position below the under surface of the switch. Portions of the arms 4|4I disposed beneath the lower surface of the plate 31 are shaped and arranged for attachably receiving the metal end 43 of afuse 44, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7. The upper insulating plate 36 has a pair of apertures 45 receiving the contact portions 40 of the members 38 and 38, as most clearly shown in Fig. 7. The upper surface of the plate 38 and the upper surface of the contact portions 48 of the contact portions 38 and 39 preferably lie substantially flush with the plane of the upper surface of the base 18 of the frame member;

Thus it will be seen that the contact carrier is disposed within the guideway of the frame and mounted in assembly with the frame between the inwardly-extending portions 21-21 of the guideway and the insulator 4. A spring member 46 (Fig. 5) is positioned, in my preferred form, between one of the walls 28 of the guideway and the contact carrier. The spring member 46 is formed of ribbon-like spring metal and comprises a base portion 41 having outwardly-extending portions 48 at its ends engaging the ends of one of the walls 28 for maintaining the spring member in position and the male portion 48 intermediate its ends. The base portion 41 is in contracted form when assembled with the switch whereby the male portion 48 enters into engagement with spaced indentations 50 formed adjacent the edges of the insulating plates 38 and 31 during reciprocable movement of the contact carrier to restrain too easy movement of the carrier from one position to another. The contact portions 9 of the leads A" and B normally engage the upper surface of the insulating plate 36 when the contact carrier is in of! position. As the actuating shaft 32 of the contact carrier is pulled toward the operator to on position, the contact portions 9 of the leads A and 13" are electrically engaged with respective contact members 38 and 38, thus closing the circuit through the fuse 44.

As a result of the construction of my invention, wherein the contact members 38 and 39 are in one piece and provide contact portions as well as resilient arms for engaging a fuse, a relatively cheap and inexpensive device is effected. At the same time the particular construction of my switch, wherein a frame member provides means securing the insulator 4 as well as means supporting the contact carrier for reciprocable motion relative to the insulator 4, I have provided a compact and efficient switch means.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A switch of the class described comprising a metal frame member having a base, an insulating plate carried by said frame member and supported by said base, contact means carried by said insulating plate, a reciprocable contact carrier carried by said frame member, said carrier having contact members for electrical engagement with said contact means carried by said insulating plate, and said base having a guideway comprising spaced wall portions extending beyond one surface thereof in angular relation to the general plane of said base and inwardly-directed flanges at the ends of said walls away from said base, said carrier supported by said flanges between said walls whereby said guideway maintains said carrier for reciprocable movement relative to said insulating plate.

2. A switch of the class described comprising a metal frame member having a base, an insulating plate carried by said frame member and supported by said base, contact means carried by said insulating plate, a reciprocable contact carrier carried by said frame member, said carrier having contact members for electrical engagement with said contact means carried by said insulating plate, and said base having a guideway comprising spaced wall portions extending beyond one surface thereof in angular relation to the general plane of said base and inwardly-directed flanges at the ends of said walls away from said base, said carrier supported by said flanges between said spaced walls whereby said guideway maintains said carrier for reciprocable movement relative to said insulating plate, and a spring means supported by said frame, said contact carrier and said spring means having interengaging means providing stops at different positions of the reciprocable motion of said carrier.

3. A switch of the class described comprising a metal frame member having a base, an insulating plate carried by said frame member and supported by said base, contact means carried by said insulating plate, a reciprocable contact carrier carried by said base, said carrier having contact members for electrical engagement with said contact means carried by said insulating plate, and said base having a guideway comprising spaced wall portions extending beyond one surface thereof in angular relation to the general plane of said base and inwardly-directed flanges at the ends of said walls away from said base, said carrier supported by said flanges between said spaced walls whereby said guideway maintains said carrier for reciprocable movement relative to said insulating plate, and a spring means disposed between one of said walls and said contact carrier, said contact carrier and said spring means having interengaging means providing stops at different positions of the reciprocable motion of said carrier.

4. A switch of the class described comprising a metal frame member having a substantially flat base, said base having a guideway positioned on one side of the lower surface thereof, an insulator supported by said upper surface of said base, and said frame having integral means maintaining said insulator in fixed assembly with said base. contact means carried by said insulator, a reciprocable contact carrier carried by said frame member and disposed within said guideway, said carrier being maintained in assembly with said frame between portions of said guideway and said insulator, said carrier comprising a metal retainer member, at least one dielectric plate carried by said retainer member and contact members supported by said dielectric plate and insulated thereby from said retains: member,

said last-mentioned contact members being electrically engageable with said contact means of said insulator at a specified position of the reciprocable movement of said carrier.

5. A switch comprising a stationary part carrying contact members, and a contact carrier mounted for reciprocable motion relative to said stationary part, said contact carrier carrying an insulating member having spaced apertures therein, contact members supported by said insulating member, each of said contact members having a contact portion adjfi'biit a surface of said insulating member for electrical engagement with a contact member of said other part, each of said contact portions having a pair of spaced resilient arms extending through said apertures of said insulating member, and each of said pairs of arms having means on the other side of said insulating member from said respective contact portion for gripping a fuse.

6. A switch comprising a stationary part car rying contact members, and a contact carrier mounted for reciprocable motion relative to said stationary part, said contact carrier comprising a metal retainer having an apertured base portlon, an insulating member carried by said retainer and supported by said base, said insulating member having pairs of spaced apertures therein, contact members supported by said insulating member, each of said contact members having a contact portion adjacent a surface of said insulating member for electrical engagement with a contact member of said other part, each of said contact portions having a pair of spaced resilient arms extending through said apertures of said insulating member and said retainer base, and each of said pairs of arms having means on the other side of said insulating member from said respective contact portion for gripping a fuse.

7. A switch of the class described comprising a frame member, an insulator supported by said frame member, contact means carried by said insulator, and a contact carrier reciprocably mounted in said frame member, said contact carrier having at least one insulating plate and a contact member carried by said plate having a portion for electrical engagement with said contact means carried by said insulator, and a spring member assembled with said frame, said spring member and said insulating plate having co-engaging means providing stops limiting the reciprocable movement of said contact carrier.

8. A switch of the class described comprising a metal frame member having a base, an insulating plate supported by said base, contact means carried by said insulating plate, a reciprocable contact carrier carried by said frame member, said carrier having contact members for electrical engagement with said contact means carried by said insulating plate, said base having a depressed portion forming a guideway, said carrier disposed within said guideway and said insulating plate and the walls of said guideway combining to maintain said carrier in position for reciprocable movement relative to said insulating Plate.

HOWARD J. MURPHY. 

